CRT New Pricing Poll

[Tigger2252]

I was going to make PS for my dd's birthday in November, but when I saw the price, and the limited menu I changed my mind. She is 11 and is an extremely picky eater. She really isn't "into" the princesses, but I thought that it would be nice to see "inside" the castle. I still can't believe I have to pay adult prices for her this year! She eats like a bird, and to have to pay $25 for dinner for her kills me! We are going to take her to CP instead. She likes it there and I know she will at least eat! Because the dropped the age on the children's menus, we made fewer ressies this year and will use counter service instead.

 

[My2Cinderellas]

a topic near and dear to my heart! These latest changes have turned my plans upside down. I was hoping to take the girls to lunch there in April, but since we are on the dining plan, I had to think long and hard about blowing 2 TS credits per person. Ultimately, DH and I decided against trying to book a meal in the castle. for our 2 TS credits, we are doing the Cinderella dinner at 1900 Park Fare and the Princess Storybook lunch at Akershus. I called this morning and was able to have my choice of times. we are 174 days out from the start of our trip.

 

[katebeth]

Is there anyway to foward this poll to Disney.....maybe they can take a hint

 

[calie_j]

We're having both breakfast & dinner in the castle on our Dec trip, luckily before the new price increase. If it would have effected our trip I would have picked one meal, probably changed to lunch only since we've never eaten in the castle before. On future trips we'd save the $$ and just say no, once would be enough for our lifetime.

 

[momupnorth]

I have booked CRT for lunch for our March trip but haven't totally decided if I am ready to use two ts meal credits for it... I could not care less about the $29.95 picture package they have added on and would much prefer to skip that portion of the meal and have the one meal charge back. I also booked Crystal Palace as my back up , in case I change my mind.

I am hoping Disney will see that people are upset with the change and might change back or let you use one ts credit if you booked the dining package before the change with the old rules in place. I am just heading out to wish upon a star--can't hurt to try....

 

[cigar95]

This will change who will be eating at the castle, no adults will want to go now. People with children will be more intersted, and possibly just once.

I'll be one of the (rare?) exceptions - in my mid 40s, I've been to CRT eight times - only once with a child. I love the food at breakfast - especially the french toast.

And I made a PS for next February yesterday as soon as I heard the "window" had opened.

With the new change, so that a meal in the castle is moving toward the "event" category more than merely a "meal", I will probably not eat there every trip now. But I won't abandon it entirely.

 

[cigar95]

Perhaps they've cleaned house since 2002 then. Because those experts back then thought eliminating Early Entry and replacing it with the Character Caravan was not pushing the envelope too far.

Don't forget, we don't know why Early Entry was discontinued, just as we don't know why it was reinstated (and expanded). So we can't say that it was a "wrong" decision.

In the same way, this change might be a "trial balloon" - asking the question "will our guests pay $32 to have breakfast in the castle?" If the answer is "no", then Disney will have an answer to their question, and the price might move to $28 or $26. Think of it as science, and this price increase as an experiment designed to answer a question.

Having said all that, I have little doubt that the breakfast will still be full every morning.

 

[samsmom05]

When we were there in Sept. I thought the price was high for what we got then. My DD ate maybe four small pieces of fruit. We will not be returning.

As far as will first timers still book the meal question, sticker shock will probably be a factor. We could eat breakfast three times at FW for what it would cost us to eat once at the castle. Personally, I enjoyed the atmosphere at 1900 Park Fare much more. I will be returning there.

 

[Planogirl]

I can't believe that people will pay these prices! But then I guess that it's worth to plenty of people. But there are so many better restaurants in WDW than this place!

 

[raidermatt]

Nope, All Aboard, I'm not going to let you suck me into an argument where you get to bash professional managers with impunity.

Of course you aren't. He offered an example of professional managers with gobs of research and information at their disposal screwing up royally.

There's not much argument to be had at that point. Retreat was the best course of action.

 

[laurabelle]

We've been to the castle for breakfast, and once was enough for us... even before they lowered the child's age, and especially now that they've increased the price. My girls are 9 & 11, and while the youngest would still enjoy it, the oldest doesn't care. So we just meet the princesses around the parks. I feel badly for the families that this financially excludes from going now...

 

[bicker]

Of course you aren't. He offered an example of professional managers with gobs of research and information at their disposal screwing up royally.

No. He offered an anecdotal example that ignored the fact that those very same managers were the ones responsible for restoring the service a year later... and there is no indication that they didn't gain more by reintroducing the service than they did by withdrawing it in the first place. And none of that has any bearing on whether this decision is one of the 99.9% that are utterly correct. In other words, he took a pot-shot. And that superficiality shows that the message was bald-faced disrespect, and nothing more significant than that.

Lots of people love to "stick it to the 'man'" -- however, that's intellectual dishonesty. If we cannot agree, at least, that professional managers make better decisions on average random Joes, then there is no common basis on which to have a constructive discussion. Discussing responsible management with someone who doesn't at least agree with that basic tenet is like arguing against someone's religion.

 

[musicmama]

Glad we got ressies before the price increase! Finally, on this our 4th trip to WDW and our first onsite, we were able to get CRT ADRs. For Christmas, even. However, I voted "no" because we won't go there again - not on 2 TSs, not when we could go TWICE this year for the same overall cost. We will be on the dining plan for this trip, and hopefully again in a year, and the increase for next year just isn't worth it to me, let alone if I were paying on the spot. DD-12 "made" me get the breakfast res this time because we've never been and she really wanted it. The other 3 times we've gone I've not gotten through early enough on the 90 days and even when we were at the park, we couldn't get in.

Which makes me think -- maybe Disney the company really doesn't care about the repeaters. And all of those ads for "See the World on a budget" - well, they're great PR but just like the ads for SixFlags and Universal about budget prices, it really only applies to tickets and lodging. Once they have you inside the boundaries, they can charge anything they want for food because most people won't make the effort to eat outside. If they're raising the price for CRT, how soon will other meal prices be raised? (or maybe I'm just being concerned about that needlessly)

I recently found out that one of my own family members - who has been to Disney more than us, but we're catching up - has never eaten at a TS restaurant. They have more kids and always did the "stay offsite cheap and eat lunchmeat in the parking lot thing" because it was the only way they could afford to be there at all. If they ate "park food", they got a couple of CS meals to split. With all of the recent price increases, they will probably never go back, and if they do they certainly won't be eating in the park. Before this trip, we only ever ate split meals at CS places except for one or two character breakfasts because American Express offered the breakfast certificates. The dining plan changed that for us this time, but why eat fewer TS meals just to experience the princesses? I'm skeptical of their motives because I've seen so many poor reviews of the food at CRT, and for what the new price will be, would have much much higher expectations - and if they weren't met, would be vocal in my disappointment. And if more restaurants follow, you can bet that we will drop the dining plan for next year like a hot potato and go back to splitting more CS meals.

So how many families like us are out there?

 

[bicker]

I think it is clear that Disney does care about repeat visitors -- but rather probably has information that indicates that (1) many repeat visitors will pay the higher amount, and/or (2) many repeat visitors will simply substitute a different experience for CRT, without rancor. In a way, #2 is a win-win-win, since many folks find that doing the same thing again isn't as much of a special experience for them as doing something for the first time.

It is clear, though, that Disney is capitalizing on gaining a more captive audience. ME is a perfect example of that: If guests don't have rental cars, that translates directly into the on-site restaurants having greater value to those guests, and of course greater value translates directly into higher menu prices and therefore higher revenues. From what I've seen, people are willing to pay more, now. They complain about it more, surely, but they pay it, and it doesn't have as much impact on repeat visiting, since every destination is doing it.

 

[maxiesmom]

After reading all about the new pricing and what you get with it, my answer is yes-take my card! We were in Disney last October, and my then 4 yr old niece kept askiing when we were going to eat at the castle. Errr, not this time honey, next time. Though I did about have a heart attack when I saw the new price. And my sister's eyes crossed. So I think we will be splitting the cost. Whatever it takes to make her little princess happy!

 

[ShellyLynn3630]

I was wanting to try it next year since we did'nt do it this past October. But now we defanitly won't. We do not go to resturants that will take up 2 of our TS credits.

 

[raidermatt]

If we cannot agree, at least, that professional managers make better decisions on average random Joes, then there is no common basis on which to have a constructive discussion.

I'm sorry, where was that question up for debate?

All that has EVER been said on the topic around here is that Disney's professional managers have made enough mistakes to bring their judgement into question. Pointing out a glaring mistake is not taking a "pot shot", its merely pointing out a fact.

Its clear you have deep personal feelings on these matters, and that's fine, but letting those feelings cloud judgement to the point of not being willing to discuss valid criticisms doesn't do a lot to further the conversation.

 

[BBGirl]

WOW looking at this poll I would say the price might become more reasonable sooner rather then later.

 

[tinkerbell81284]

I altered our plans today when I made ADR's and found out it was now 2TS credits. NOPE, we won't be doing it.

I also wanted to add, that what was explained to me is different from this -


What I was told today is that the photo pack is an EXTRA $29.99, it is not included in the new meal price. IF that is wrong someone please clarify, but that is what I was told. The CM said that CRT is now a "signature" meal, it is now 2 TS credits for those on the dining plan, and the new price for dinner (which is what I was inquiring about) is $39.99/ $24.99. She said that the characters/princesses will be there, however, Cindy, would be at the entrance for a photo op with her, and you could purchase the photo package during the meal, for $29.99, she also said that starting Feb. 1st, you'd also get a limited edition lithograph.

For us, our DS who is 6, is not into the princesses anyway, this was for my b-day. I don't think it's worth using 2TS credits, so I didn't book it. For all those with little princesses in training, it's a shame it's so $$$$.

wendypooh that photo package is included for all 3 meals. Just wanted to inform you all.

 

[cigar95]

Of course you aren't. He offered an example of professional managers with gobs of research and information at their disposal screwing up royally.

There's not much argument to be had at that point. Retreat was the best course of action.

In what way did Disney "screw up royally" regarding Early Entry?

1 - changing the policy at a later time doesn't mean that the original change wasn't the right thing to do at that time;

2 - we don't know the reasons and goals for the original change *or* the later reinstatement, so there's no way to know that *both* changes weren't a success;

In the same way, there's no way to know whether the current changes at CRT will be a success because we're not privy as to what Disney is trying to accomplish with them. ("increased revenue" may only be part of the answer.)